Long non-coding RNA IGFBP7-AS1 promotes odontogenic differentiation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth through autophagy: An in vitro study

Objective: In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7-antisense 1 (IGFBP7-AS1) regulates the odonto-differentiation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) and its underlying mechanism. Design: Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and correlation analysis were used to determine the expression of IGFBP7-AS1 during odontogenesis. Alkaline phosphate staining, alizarin red S staining, and real -time PCR in vitro were performed to investigate the effects of IGFBP7-AS1 during odontogenesis. Western blot and immunostaining (with or without chloroquine treatment) were applied to detect the expression of the autophagy-related markers, microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3B) and p62. The auto-phagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine was used to further clarify the effect of autophagy in odonto-differentiation as promoted by IGFBP7-AS1. Results: The expression of lncRNA IGFBP7-AS1 is significantly upregulated during odonto-differentiation of SHED and promotes odontogenesis of SHED in vitro. IGFBP7-AS1 promotes autophagy during odontogenesis. Conclusions: IGFBP7-AS1 elicits odontogenic differentiation of SHED through autophagy. Furthermore, IGFBP7-AS1 shows promise as a gene target in the regeneration of dental hard tissue and dental-pulp complex.